What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?-Chapter 422 - 418: Happy and Free Together
"When I was the Empress, I was still residing comfortably in Lizheng Hall, but now as the Empress Dowager, I’m to be driven out of the Palace? Isn’t this, Your Majesty, making Ah Dang’s heart grow cold?"
Li Mu paused, turned his head, and his brows were heavy.
Empress Yuan smiled with increasing malice, "I remember, the Crown Princess Consort said that how can being the Empress compare to the freedom and joy of being the Empress Dowager?"
Tang Xiaobai: ???
It seems... I really did say that...
Didn’t I even say it in front of Li Mu?
At that time, it was just to deceive Empress Yuan, I forgot that one day I too would be the Empress.
Isn’t this like shooting oneself in the foot?
How can I smooth this over...
Li Mu glanced at the embarrassed Tang Xiaobai and said indifferently, "One man’s honey is another man’s poison. My Empress is happiest with me by her side."
After speaking, he left gracefully, leaving behind Empress Tang who wanted to cover her face and the ’idle onlookers’ who were shown a public display of affection.
...
As night fell and lanterns were lit, inside Taiji Palace, all the Commandery Princes, Prime Minister, and numerous civil and military officials were kneeling.
"Your Majesty, the evening meal is ready."
Li Mu stood up and left the main hall.
As he reached the side hall, a familiar sweet fragrance wafted to his nose.
His lips moved slightly, he waved his hand to dismiss his attendants, and opened the door himself to enter.
On the screen at the doorway, a silhouette sitting down was cast; the sudden movement of lifting her head made the pearls by her temples tremble, indescribably charming and cute.
Li Mu strode in, bypassed the screen, and faced the girl’s gaze after she stood up.
Due to the family teachings of Duke Yan Mansion, Tang Xiaobai rarely wore white clothes.
Li Mu only knew today that she looked good in white as well.
Her figure stood graceful in pure white, her face was radiant with a flush of red, her hair piled in raven hues, her apricot eyes bright and clear, like a flower blooming in the snow, full of vitality and spring.
She smiled warmly as she took his arm and led him to a table full of delicacies, "These were all dishes I personally instructed them to make; Your Majesty has worked hard today, eat some more!"
Li Mu sat down as she pulled him but glanced at her indifferently, "Uninvited hospitality."
Her apricot eyes widened, "What do you mean hospitality? This is a reward!"
"A reward for what?"
Tang Xiaobai regained her smiling demeanor, "Your words to Empress Yuan today were very fitting!" Only a bit embarrassing.
Unexpectedly, at her words, His Majesty the Emperor’s expression turned even more faint, "Is that so?"
Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.
Does this mean... the matter is not over yet?
"Ah Jiao really thinks being the Empress Dowager is more carefree than being the Empress?"
As expected, the death-defying question came.
Tang Xiaobai thought seriously, then nodded, "Yes, I do think that—"
"I know."
Tang Xiaobai choked, hurriedly adding, "But I have a ’but’—"
"No need for ’but’s." He spoke with a detached tone.
Tang Xiaobai was a bit confused.
Why is he suddenly not listening? This didn’t happen before...
"Since you think being Empress Dowager is more carefree—"
That’s not true, I didn’t, don’t say such things!
"Then let’s have a Crown Prince sooner."
Tang Xiaobai: ???
His Majesty the Emperor slowly raised his eyes, "Wouldn’t it be better for us to be happy together?"
Tang Xiaobai’s face turned red abruptly.
Such... such audacious words?
The Emperor, who had uttered such audacious words, felt no shame as he busied himself serving dishes to the Empress.
Tang Xiaobai blushed for a while, then suddenly grabbed his hand, speaking earnestly, "But I still need to say my ’but’!"
Li Mu’s eyes reflected a hint of amusement, "Alright, you may say."
"As long as you’re with me, anything I do is carefree and joyful..."
...
The mourning customs of this dynasty were not as grand as during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
After the Emperor’s death, the new Emperor listens to affairs of state for three days, and mourning clothes are removed for twenty-seven days.
As for the members of the royal family, they follow the customs of the common people, mourning according to relative distance.
Officials and commoners are only required to mourn for three days from the day the decree arrives, and no weddings or festivities are allowed within those three days.
In the Capital, the mourning period had long passed, and at the end of this year, it welcomed a brand-new court.
...
In the winter of the sixteenth year of Taixing, on the Bingzi day of the twelfth month, the consort of the Tang Family was established as Empress.
In the same month, the late Emperor’s concubines moved to Yong’an Palace.
In the first spring of the first year of Zhengyuan, on the Yiyou day of the first month, the era name changed.
...
In the first year of Zhengyuan, on the tenth day of the first month, a spring chill lingered.
Tang Xiaobai, holding a hand warmer, squinted her sleepy eyes and listened to the female official reporting the recent situation at the Yong’an Palace.
This forced palace relocation initially met with a lot of fierce opposition.
But once Her Majesty the Emperor decided on something, few could sway him.
Anyway, she was not about to waver.
Now that Taiji Palace was her home, who would want so many unrelated people in their own home? Furthermore, none of them were easy to deal with.
However, since allowing concubines with children to leave the palace with their offspring, the voices of opposition had decreased significantly.
Now those who went to Yong’an Palace, except for Empress Dowager Yuan who was still discontented, the rest were fairly content.
After listening, Tang Xiaobai gave a couple of instructions and waved the female official off.
Tao Zi immediately stepped up to her position, whispering, "His Majesty has gone to the West Ping Prince Mansion again!"
After the change of era this year, there were many adjustments among the ministers in court.
The Prime Ministers remained Zheng Shidao and Wei Du.
The position of Prime Minister cannot be easily altered, but others can be.
Especially when granting promotions and titles to trusted aides, His Majesty the Emperor is not hesitant at all.
For example, Li Xingyuan has been restored to his title of Commandery Prince, only with a change of title, Prince Xiping.
Tao Zi said "again" because, within these ten days, Li Mu had gone to the West Ping Prince Mansion for the second time, even Tang Xiaobai furrowed her brows upon hearing it.
"Should we leave the Palace too?" Tao Zi rubbed her fists, looking like she was ready to catch an affair.
Tang Xiaobai chuckled, stood up, "Alright, let’s leave the Palace too!"
